Apparatus for sealing packing-cases.



P. D. PARSONS.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING PACKING CASES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. l9ll.

1 ,273,5 31 Patented July 23, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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P. D. PARSONS.

. APPARATUS FOR SEALING PACKING CASES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 19H. 1,273,531. Patented July 23,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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STATES PATENT omen.

PHILIP n. masons, or rmmnatrma, rmmsnvama, A88IGNOB 'ro scor'r rarnn' COMPANY, 'A CORPORATION OF PMS'YLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING Patented July 23, 1918.

Application ale-dream a, 1917. Serial Io. 141,004.

To allwhomitmay concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP D. Parsons, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Philadelphia, county of- Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Sealing Packing-Cases, of which the following is a specification. I

In the art of packing goods for shifpment, apacking case or carton made '0 fiber, cardboardor similar material sealed by suitably formed flaps and an adhesive, is now employedin many instances when previously it was thought necessary to use a nailed wooden case or box. My invention relates to an improved means for facilitating the sealing of such fiber packing cases.

or cartons.

The object of my invention is to provide a fiber packing case sealer which can be operated to insure speedy and reliable sealing of packing cases with 'a minimum consumption of time in and labor of handling.

A further object is to provide a fiber packing case sealer of simple construction and having a minimum of wearing parts.-

My object is also to provide a suitable machine into which a filled carton or case may be placed after the top flaps have been cemented and folded in sealed position and carton inverted, so that the weight of the same will insure retention of the flaps, and whereby. further, the bottom flaps (now on top) may also be cemented and folded into sealing position and carton subjected to spring pressure from above and below while suitably supported laterally; further in employing, in said machine, means for facilitating the uptilting of the sealed carton to enable it to be grasped at one end and upturned out of the pressure applying means.

My invention consists of certain improvements in fiber packing case sealers whereby the above and other objects are attained, said improvements comprisin certain organization and combination 0 parts which are fully described hereinaftenand more particularly defined in the claims. v

For the purpose of illustrating my inven tion, I have shown in the accompanying drawings the embodiment thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same is in form to give satisfactory and reliable results, but it is to be understood that the several, instrumentalities of which my in-. vention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown anddescribed.

Referring to the drawings; Figure 1, is a diagrammatic illustration of a lurality of stages in filling and sealing a fiber carton or acking case; Fig. 1-is a perspective view 0 one of the cartons before sealing;

Fig. 2 1s. a side elevation of the sealer, to-

g'ether with the feed and discharge tables; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the sealer on line H of Fig. 5; Fig. t is an elevation showing the means of applying power to close the lid of the sealer; Fig. 5 1s a the to fla s. Ala-2, the bottom flaps have been olde under but not sealed and the case has been filled with goods. At 3, the top flaps are folded down and sealed with cement. At 4, the case is turned over and the bottom flaps exposed. At 5, the bottom.

fiap's are sealed. After the adhesive has set, the case 'is turned under side up as at 6 (Fi 2) and the operation is complete.

To e ect the above operations efiiciently, I employ a combination of elements. These may be briefly stated as follows: 7 is a suitable table on which the filled cases or cartons are supported with their bottom flaps turned under, and over which table they are moved to the sealing machine proper indicated at 12. The end table 7 next to the sealing machine constitutes a deliver stage 9 having side ides 8 made in the orm of sheet metal wlngs secured at each side of the frame adjacent tothe sealing machine. The object of these wings 8 is to properly position the case or carton in respect to alinement with the sealing machine into whidh it is to be delivered. From the sealer 12, the sealed cases or cartons are delivered to a discharge or delivery table 13,'of any desired form, and from which they are finally delivered for shipment.

The sealer 12 consists of a-bottom structure 15, a hinged lid structure 15 and suitable laterally inclosing and supportin frames 23. The bottom structure 15 is bui t up of inclosing side angle irons 17, and en'd angle irons 18 which form a rectangular frame, and a T iron 14 extending from the center of one side of the rectangular frame to the center of the other side and riveted thereto. The T iron 14 has a plurality of sheet metal sprin strips 19 riveted to' it,

whose ends exten equally on. either side of sealed as shown in'the drawings.-

'- Angle irons-20 are riveted together to form The supporting structure comprises six upright T irons 16, three at the front of thesealerand three at the rear. The bottom structure 15 is riveted orbolted to the said supporting T irons, the connection being made with the side irons 17.,

The lid structure 15 is suitably hinged to the supporting structure and is built in a manner similar t'o'the bottom structure.

a rectangular frame and from the center of one side of the rectangular frame to the center of the other side is riveted a T iron 21. To this T iron are riveted a number of sheet. vmetal"strips 22 which project equally on' either side of thev T iron so that their free ends extend close to the angle irons 20 forming the ends of the lid, and are below the plane of T iron 21. These-sheet metal strips form the roof of the lid and as noted are formed so that their free ends are in a position lower than their center or fixed portions riveted to the T iron 21. This construction results in a spring action which I exerts pressure downward upon the flaps of the carton. The lid as described is'adapted to fit over the top of the packing case and when properly secured to exert a downward spring pressure on the same to hold the flaps in fixed position while the adhesiveis setting.

The lid structure 15 is secured to the T irons '16 of the supporting structure by means of three hinge lugs 20 on the lid which are adapted to rotate on a hinge rod 20 about which the lid may be swung. To

hold the lid in its open position just-beyond the vertical, the center hinge lug 20 engages a stop lug 20 secured to the supporting structure. Toclamp the lid in its closed position, there is provided a toggle clamping lever '27, its'upper member 28 ada ted to fit over a projecting lip 29 at the ont edge of the lid. The lower member 30 of the toggle lever has one end hinged to the middle upright iron 16 of the supporting structure. Throwing out the lower end. of lever 30, raises the upper end of lever member 28 and releases the clamping pressure so as to enable said member to be swung clear of the lid to release it. In clamping the lid the lever member 28 is placed in contact w1th the projecting lip 29'of the lid and the throwing down of the lever 30 exerts a downward pull on the lid and clamps it in position. e

The support' structure is suitably braced by diagona braces 16 and end braces 16. At front and rear, between the center and end T irons. 16, the case'or carton 18 held in position by the sheet iron plates 36 riveted to the front and rear bottom side angle irons 17. These plates have their upper ends free and are adapted to exert a pressure inward on the packing case to prevent too much looseness and also to centralize the case under the lid.

31 designates two push rods which extend vertically upward through holes in one of the end angle irons 18 forming part of the bottom structure 15, and ca able of sliding therein. The rods31 are jolned at the bottom by a cross bar 32 connected to a suitably pivoted treadle lever 33. Pressing the treadle-33 downward, causes the rods 31 to rise and in consequence raises one edge of the case which is resting above them on angle iron 18, thereby enabling the fingers,

to be inserted under the case or carton to lift it. y v

While the sealer may be accurately proportioned to receive cases or cartons of definite size, it is desirable to provide capacity for some adjustment to suit small variations in dimensions of the cases. By properly supporting the sides of the case the pressure applied in sealing the top and bottom flaps is effective without causing a bulged condition of the case. The lid 15 is preferably formed of the four angle irons 20, adjustably connected at thecorners; and this is provided for by the triangular plates 23 bolted to the angle irons by bolts 26 (Fig. 7). The plate 23 has two sets of slotted holes, 24 and 25, whose directions of length are at right angles,-as shown, one

receiving bolts 26 for the end an 16. irons 20 and the other set receiving siml ar bolts. for the side angle irons 20. By this means the rectangular size and shape of the lid may be slightly adjusted and thus made to snugly fit over the top of the cases, even though they varied slightly.

At the lower or bottom of the case sup- The adhesive to be employed may be varied to suit the requirements, but I have found the most satisfactory material to employ is a reasonably fluid silicate of soda, WhlCh is easily applied and quickly sets. This substance has body enough to insure perfect union of the overlapping flaps; and

y excludin the air when the pressure is applied by t e sealer and holding the parts until the adhesive sets, the atmospheric pressure insures a rfeet and strong adhesion of the flaps during the hardening of the silicate.

In 0 ration, the sealer is used as follows:- he fiber case. when filled, is received at the landing stage 9 with top side T up, the bottom flaps B folded under but not sealed. The operator then applies the adhesive to the top flaps to seal them and turns the case over into the sealer and this brings the bottom fla s B to the top. Adhesive is then applie tothe bottom flaps, they are fastened down, after which the lid is closed down and clamped. The clamping pressure is applied for a suitable time, usually about two minutes, during which time it. will be noted that the function of the springs 22 and 19 is to hold the flaps in close contact while the adhesive is setting. The springs being yielding, apply the pressure where and to the extent needed.

When the necessary time has elapsed, the operator releases the clamping pressure by throwing up lever 30 and disengaging lever 28. The lid is then swung upward and back. Pressure may now be applied to the treadle 33 to cause the rods 31 to raise one end of the case, which may then be gras ed and turned over upon the discharge tab e 13, as indicated at 6. The sealer 12 is nowready to repeat the sealing operation.

It will be apparent thatin sealing fiber packing cases with adhesive there is a certain mlnlmum amount of time which must be consumed in sealin each case and this minimum is that required for the adhesive to set. The additional time required is that utilized in handling the case. My invention as above described reduces the time of and labor in handling While also holding the case securely during the interval when the adhesive is setting and. thus securing reliable sealing. The time and labor are reduced,

first, by havin a supply of'cases to be sealed delivered in c ose proximity to the sealer; second, by providing means for quickly clamping the lid; third, by enabling the lid quickly to be swung clear; and fourth, by arranging a treadle operated device to facilitate the discharging the sealed cases from the sealer. It should be noted here that by slight modifications, my constructions may be made adjustable and suitable to seal cases of various dimensions.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which is best suited to give satisfactory and reliable results in practice, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character stated, the

combination of a bottom structure having a supporting portion capable of exerting a spring action upward, a hinged lid structure having a portion capable of exerting a spring action downward, vertical spring p ates suitable for holding the sides-of a case to be sealed in fixed relation between the said lid and said bottom structures, and means for clamping the lid structure in the closed position.

2. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a bottom structure having a supporting portion capable of exerting a spring action upward, a lid hin ed structure having a portion capable o exerting a spring action downward, and means suitable for holding the sides of a case to be sealed in fixed relation between the said lid and said bottom structures, said bottom structure comprising a rectangular frame, a cross iron securely fastened from the center of one side of said frame to center of opposite side, a plurality of sheet metal springs securely fastened'in the middle to said cross iron and extending on either side with their free ends above the plane of said cross iron, and independently operative to press upon the case to be sealed, said lid structure comprising a rectangular frame, a cross iron fastened from the center of one side of said frame to center of opposite side, a plurality of sheet metal springs fastened in the middle to said cross iron and extending on either side with their free ends below the plane of said cross iron, and independently operative to press upon the case to be sealed.

3. In a device of the character stated, a rectangular bottom structure havin a fixed floor portion having a plurality of springs each capable of exerting an independent spring actionupwardly at aplurality' of sepa-' rate placesnear each end, combined with a recta ar lid structure also provided with a plurahty of springs'eachcapable-of exerting an independent spring action downwardly at a plurality of separate places near each end, and suitable means for holding the lid in fixed relation to the bottom for clamp: ing a: case to be sealed between them, the said springs eachdirectly pressing upon the case to be sealed andproyiding independent action.- o 4. In a device of thecnaracter stated, a rectangularbottom structure havin a fixed floor portion having a plurality o springs each capable of exerting an independentspring action upwardly at a plurality of, se arate places near each end, combined Wlth a rectangular lid structure provided with a plurality of springs each capable of exerting an independent spring action downwardly' at a plurality of separate places near each end and said lid: structure also having means for adjusting its linear dimensions to suitcases of varying dimensions, and suitable. means for holding the in fixed relation to the bottom for clamp- 1n sal d springs each directly pressing upon the case to be sealed and providingindependent action.

5. In a device of the character stated, the

combination of a main frame havln upright sides at front and back, a bottom rame separatefromthe main frame for supporting the case to be sealed said bottom ad- 'justably secured to'the sides ofthe main frame so as to permit said sides of the main frames to'be adjusted relatively toward or from each other to vary the space for receiving the case, a lid hinged to the main frame and adjustable as to its width in the direction transverse to the hinge axis to cor-v respond to the adjustment of the bottom said lid having spring pressure plates on its,

under side to directly press upon the case, and means for locking the lid in closed posi= tion above the bottom frame. I 6. In a device of the character stated, the combination of the main frame having sides,

- clainp' a case to be sealed between them, the,

inlg S i e unto set my be d lid'having four angle iron bounding ironsjointed at the corners by adjustable corner plates whereby the area of the lid may be' slightly varied, and means for clamping the lid in position iupon the bottom frame.

7 In a device of the. character stated,

, a main frame having a-pluralty of upright irons at .each side, combined with a bottom'frame between said sides andsecured to them, side sheet plates fixedly ,at their lower parts ad acent to the bottom frame,

and extending upward above the bottom and between the upright irons-of the respective sides and ,free' at their upper ends to form 4 flexible sides to the main frame, a lid hinged to the topof the side ironsofone'side and having spring pressure plates on its underside presenting free ends and means. for the lid to the other side upright irons an position parallel to the bottom frame. 4 V q '8. Ina device of the character stated,a

mainframe having a plurality of upright irons at each side, combined with a bottom frame betweensaidsides and to them, said bottom frame provided with spring pressure plates on its upper side, saidplates presenting free ends, s1 e spring plates fixedly secured at their lower parts adjacent to the bottom frameand extend-v ing upward above the bottom and between the upright irons of the respective sides and free at their u per ends to form flexible sides to the main ame, a lid hinged to the top --of the'side irons of one side and havpressureplates on its under side presentm free ends, and-means for clamping the hd to the other side-upright irons and in position parallel to the bottom frame. In testimonyof which'invention, I here;

PHHJIP D, PARSONS. IWitnesses:

.R. M. HUNTER, 'EIYW: SMITH.

the mainframe over 

